Madonna visite le Millennium Village au Malawi.

Official Press Release - Communiqué Officiel de Presse

Madonna Visits Millennium Village in Malawi, Reviews Substantial Progress
Improvements in education, health, and women's empowerment are focus of visit

GUMULIRA, Malawi, April 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Madonna today visited Gumulira, a Millennium Village of approximately 5000 people in rural central Malawi. Raising Malawi, an organization co-founded by Madonna, has been a partner in the Millennium Villages project in Gumulira since its inception in 2006. Madonna was joined in Gumulira by Hans Vestberg, President & CEO of Ericsson, and Prof. Jeffrey Sachs, the director of The Earth Institute at Columbia University and co-founder of Millennium Promise.
When the Millennium Villages project in Gumulira was launched, the area was beset by a number of complex challenges. Food insecurity was high due to limited access to specialized seed and fertilizers. Limited access to medical services, classrooms and school supplies, and clean water were pervasive.
"In the space of just a few years, Gumulira has made major gains in food security, health services, education, and income-generation," said Millennium Promise CEO John W. McArthur. "We are incredibly grateful to Madonna and Raising Malawi for their partnership in making this progress possible, and their broader leadership in helping to highlight the dramatic and rapid inroads that can be made against extreme poverty."
Today, the Millennium Villages reach nearly 500,000 people across 10 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, and the partner communities in each country are registering a cross-section of major improvements. To learn more about the progress being made and the evolving priorities in Gumulira and throughout the Millennium Villages, visit www.millenniumpromise.org.

About Millennium Promise
The mission of Millennium Promise is to help achieve the Millennium Development Goals – eight  globally endorsed objectives addressing the multiple dimensions of extreme poverty – in Africa by 2015. To that end, Millennium Promise uses a holistic approach to work with impoverished communities, national and local governments and partner organizations to implement high-impact programs aimed at stopping the cycle of poverty. Our work is premised on the belief that, for the first time in history, our generation has the opportunity to end extreme poverty, hunger and preventable disease.  For more information, visit www.millenniumpromise.org.

SOURCE Millennium Promise

Source: PRNewswire.

Eau de Coco: Innovation et Bénéfices pour la Santé Naturelle.

Official Press Release - Communiqué Officiel de Presse

Research and Markets: Coconut Water: Innovation and Natural Health Benefits of the Fastest Growing Category, with Retail Sales Already Above $450 Million
 
Press Release Source: Research and Markets On Friday March 26, 2010, 5:45 am EDT

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)-Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/b3b0fe/coconut_water_inn) has announced the addition of the "Coconut Water: Innovation and Natural Health Benefits Drive a New Category" report to their offering.
Every so often we witness the emergence of a new category a product that is new to consumers, provides new benefits and is marketed under new brands. Twenty years ago the new category was Red Bull and energy drinks; more recently, probiotic dairy.
Today, coconut water is the fast-growing new category, with retail sales already above $450 million (327.5 million), thanks to its strong isotonic, hypo-allergenic and all-natural health benefits.
Using new processing technologies and new brands, start-up companies in Germany, the US and elsewhere are growing coconut water sales quickly and commanding premium prices. Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Europe's biggest brewing families and even Madonna have invested in the sector.
Coconut water has a host of advantages guaranteed to appeal to health-conscious consumers:
•Its a natural beverage that needs no additions, not even a sweetener
•Its hypo-allergenic, a key benefit in a world in which consumers are becoming more concerned about avoiding one or more of the eight major allergens
•Its a natural isotonic drink, according to the United Nations, which has described it as the fluid of life, providing many of the same benefits as formulated sports drinks, but in an all-natural form.
Coconut water is set to redefine the sports drink market, giving consumers the choice of an all-natural isotonic drink for the first time ever.
This concise report provides our trademark detailed, independent and opinionated analysis, using supermarket sales data and interviews with executives at all of the companies concerned, as well as independent beverage industry experts.

This unique report addresses:
•Packaging
•Ingredients and nutrition profiles
•Supply strategies
•Marketing communications strategy
•Pricing strategies
•Target consumers
•Flavours

For any company, large or small, aiming to create a successful proposition in functional or health-enhancing beverages and better-manage the risks of new product development and innovation, this report provides practical insights and examples.

Key Topics Covered:
1. Executive Summary
2. What is coconut water? 2.1 Natural health benefits 2.2 A benefit people can feel 2.3 Coconut water taps into demand for a natural sports drink 2.4 Coconut water satisfies the rules for marketing natural health 2.5 A premium priced business 2.6 The future for coconut water: the next Superfood?
3. German technology re-defines European market 3.1 Proprietary process 3.2 Control of supply 3.3 Sustainable production key to cost and corporate values 3.4 Products 3.5 Debut in Germany 3.6 Distribution 3.7 Consumers 3.8 Communications and health claims
4. Coconut water in the US 4.1 A new point of difference in the US sports drink market 4.2 The US coconut water brands

Case Study 1: Vita Coco
Case Study 2: Zico
Case Study 3: O.N.E.

Companies Mentioned:
•All Market
•Amacoco Sudeste
•Coca-Cola
•Dr Antonio Martins
•Gatorade
•Green Coco
•Kero Coco
•McDonalds
•O.N.E
•O.N.E. World Enterprises
•PepsiCo
•Powerade
•Trop Coco
•Vita Coco
•Zico

Source: BUSINESS WIRE.

Coconut water is increasing in popularity with several producers vying for a piece of the rapidly growing market.
Photo: AP/Larry Crowe.

MG Icon de Madonna et Iconix annonce la collection "Material Girl" chez Macy's.

Official Press Release - Communiqué Officiel de Presse

Madonna and Iconix Brand Group's MG Icon Announces First Fashion Partnership With Macy's Inc.

 "MATERIAL GIRL" JUNIOR COLLECTION TO DEBUT THIS FALL

NEW YORK, March 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- MG ICON, the newly formed joint venture between Madonna and Iconix Brand Group, Inc., (Nasdaq: ICON) announced its first direct-to-retail license agreement with Macy's, Inc. for the "Material Girl" collection. "Material Girl" is a newly created, fast-fashion junior collection that will launch exclusively in approximately 200 Macy's stores and online at www.macys.com in August 2010 for the back-to-school season.
As part of the direct-to-retail agreement, Macy's will have the opportunity to launch additional brands with MG Icon in the future.
The "Material Girl" collection was inspired and designed in collaboration with Madonna and her daughter Lourdes, along with Iconix Brand Group's in-house fashion department. In addition to the back-to-school apparel collection, "Material Girl" will also launch in multiple categories including footwear, handbags and jewelry. The collection will retail from $12.00 to $40.00, comparative with pricing strategies at junior specialty stores. The strategy for growth will include additional categories in the lifestyle and beauty sectors, including fragrance, beginning 2011 as well as a rollout into additional Macy's stores.
Neil Cole, CEO and Chairman, Iconix, stated, "We are excited to announce the first in a series of new brands that will be developed under our partnership with Madonna. 'Material Girl' has a powerful retail partner in Macy's and we look forward to working together to deliver an innovative launch for our consumers."
"We believe that 'Material Girl' will be a dynamic exclusive brand for Macy's, and we look forward to working with Madonna, Lourdes and the Iconix team. Madonna is a fashion icon who can bring a new dimension to our juniors customer," said Jeff Gennette, Macy's chief merchandising officer. "'Material Girl' will enhance the excitement of fast fashion at Macy's."

About Iconix Brand Group, Inc.
Iconix Brand Group Inc. (Nasdaq: ICON) owns, licenses and markets a growing portfolio of consumer brands including CANDIE'S (R), BONGO (R), BADGLEY MISCHKA (R), JOE BOXER (R) RAMPAGE (R) MUDD (R), LONDON FOG (R), MOSSIMO (R) OCEAN PACIFIC(R), DANSKIN (R) ROCA WEAR(R), CANNON (R), ROYAL VELVET (R), FIELDCREST (R), CHARISMA (R), STARTER (R) and WAVERLY (R). In addition, Iconix owns an interest in the ARTFUL DODGER (R), ED HARDY (R), ECKO (R), MARC ECKO (R) and ZOO YORK (R) brands. The Company licenses its brands to a network of leading retailers and manufacturers that touch every major segment of retail distribution from the luxury market to the mass market in both the U.S. and around the world. Iconix, through its in-house advertising, promotion and public relations agency, markets its brands to continually drive greater consumer awareness and equity.

About Macy's, Inc.
Macy's, Inc., with corporate offices in Cincinnati and New York, is one of the nation's premier retailers, with fiscal 2009 sales of $23.5 billion. The company operates about 850 department stores in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico under the names of Macy's and Bloomingdale's. The company also operates macys.com and bloomingdales.com. Prior to June 1, 2007, Macy's, Inc. was known as Federated Department Stores, Inc.

About Madonna
Madonna, a multi-Grammy winning artist, cultural icon, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, director, producer, documentarian, children's book author, video visionary and humanitarian has sold over 200 million albums in the course of her unparalleled career in the entertainment business.  Her recent "Sticky and Sweet" Tour was the most successful concert tour by a solo artist in history.

SOURCE Iconix Brand Group, Inc.

Source: PRNewswire.

Madonna comme investisseuse dans 'Vita Coco': Le Communiqué de Presse Officiel.

January 31, 2010 04:00 AM Eastern Time
Vita Coco, Best-Selling Coconut Water Brand Poised for Major Growth in 2010
Madonna and Other Major Talent on Board as Investors

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Vita Coco, the nation’s best-selling coconut water and one of the fastest-growing beverage brands in the U.S., today announced a group of high-profile new investors into the five-year old, New York-based beverage company. With over 60% share of the coconut water market and annual revenues more than doubling in 2009 from the previous year, Vita Coco is headed to record sales in 2010 and beyond. It was officially confirmed today by Vita Coco CEO and co-founder Michael Kirban that entertainment manager Guy Oseary and his client Madonna invested in Vita Coco. Oseary also brought on board Matthew McConaughey, Demi Moore and Red Hot Chili Peppers frontman Anthony Kiedis as additional Vita Coco investors.
“This group of investors chose to invest because they’ve all been brand loyalists, drink Vita Coco regularly and believe in the growth potential of the Vita Coco brand,” stated Kirban.
Fresh coconut water, extracted from young green coconuts (not brown ones) has grown increasingly popular as both a lifestyle beverage and a natural sports drink. “Each of these investors not only validates the Vita Coco brand, but the category of natural-functional beverages as well,” added Kirban.
Vita Coco is currently sold at over 14,000 retailers nationwide, including Whole Foods Market, Safeway, Giant Eagle, Ralph’s, Shaw’s, Stop&Shop/Giant, HEB, Hannaford Supermarkets, ACME and Shop Rite, as well as on Amazon.com.
Early next month, Vita Coco will be available for sale in over 1,300 GNC stores nationwide. “GNC’s motto is ‘Live Well,’ and as the leading vitamin, supplement and sports nutrition chain, I can’t think of a finer retail partner as the Vita Coco brand grows nationally,” notes Kirban. “GNC’s product education programs will ensure that new consumers learn about the healthful benefits of Vita Coco.”

About Vita Coco
Vita Coco—all-natural, 100% pure coconut water—has for many consumers become the best alternative to sports drinks and enhanced bottled waters. One reason: an 11.2-ounce/330-ml serving size of Vita Coco contains almost 700 mg of potassium, approximately 15 times more than the average sports drink in a similar serving size.
Vita Coco was founded by longtime friends Michael Kirban and Ira Liran in 2004 and is based in New York City. The Vita Coco brand is a leader in the natural-functional beverage category and is the #1-selling coconut water in the U.S. with over 60% market share (source: Merrill Lynch/Bank of America).
Of all the coconut water brands presently sold in the U.S., Vita Coco is the only brand with its own production facility, allowing Vita Coco to directly manage quality control, new flavor development and special packaging.
Vita Coco is currently sold at over 14,000 retailers nationwide, including Whole Foods Market, Safeway, Giant Eagle, Ralph’s, Shaw’s, Stop&Shop/Giant, HEB, Hannaford Supermarkets, ACME and Shop Rite, as well as on Amazon.com.
Visit: www.vitacoco.com

Source: Business Wire.

Vita Coco CEO Michael Kirban is on top of the world after the recent investment.
Photo: Jordan Hollender.

Ventes records pour le Sticky & Sweet Tour de Madonna!


SOURCE: Warner Bros. Records
May 27, 2008 12:12 ET
More "Sweet" Sales for Madonna's Sticky & Sweet Tour!

- Stadiums & Arenas Sell Out in Record Time;
- Paris - Stade de France - Sept. 20th - 80,000 Tickets Sold; 2nd Show Added Sept. 21st Due to Overwhelming Demand - on Sale June 4th;
- Zurich - Military Airfield Dubendorf - Aug. 30th - 70,000 Tickets Sold;
- Vancouver - BC Place Stadium - Oct. 30th - 50,000 Tickets Sold

LOS ANGELES, CA--(Marketwire - May 27, 2008) - Ticket sales for Madonna's highly anticipated Sticky & Sweet Tour continued to explode throughout Europe and North America, it was confirmed by the tour's producer, Live Nation.
The demand for tickets in Paris for Madonna's scheduled September 20th performance was so staggering that a second and final performance has just been announced for September 21st. The Sticky & Sweet Zurich show at the Military Airfield Deubendorf scheduled for August 30th has just glided past the 70,000 mark as Madonna fans buy tickets in record breaking numbers for that show as well as in Vancouver, where Madonna's October 30th performance sold 50,000 tickets in a record breaking 29 minutes. In addition, due to instant sellouts in Toronto at Air Canada Centre on October 18th and Montreal at the Bell Centre on October 22nd, second shows in both markets have been added -- October 19th in Toronto at the Air Canada Centre and October 23 at Montreal's Bell Centre. These new sellout performances add to a list of sellouts that already include three sold out Madison Square Garden shows in New York City on October 6, 7 and 11 and sellouts in Boston and Chicago where a second show October 27th at the United Center will go on sale on June 2nd. Additional Madonna shows on sale this weekend include: Los Angeles, San Diego, Houston, Miami, Las Vegas, Denver, Philadelphia, Atlanta and Atlantic City (see listing below for venue, show date and on-sale dates).

The Sticky & Sweet Tour, where Madonna once again joins creative forces with director Jamie King, is expected to surpass her previous sold out Confessions Tour in terms of production, visual enhancement, technology, dancing, singing, costumes and nonstop entertainment. A special stage is being created to showcase Madonna, her band, and a stunning troop of dancers, all of which will give fans a breathtaking never before seen or heard once-in-a-lifetime experience. Madonna recently gave fans a preview of what they might expect at promotional shows in New York, Paris and the UK which received overwhelming raves from critics and fans.

Madonna's current CD "HARD CANDY" which debuted at the Number One slot in 37 countries remains the number one CD on Billboard's European Album Chart along with holding the number one single spot on Billboard's European single chart with the smash hit "4 Minutes." In the US, "HARD CANDY" has remained a Top 10 album since its release.

The Sticky and Sweet Tour is being produced by Live Nation. For complete tour information, news, contests, and more, visit: www.madonna.com or www.livenation.com.

 
                                TOUR ITINERARY 2008
 

Showdate:  City:               Venue:                                        On sale Date:

23-Aug     Cardiff              Millennium Stadium
26-Aug     Nice                   Stade Charles Ehrmann
28-Aug     Berlin                Olympic Stadium
30-Aug     Zurich               Military Airfield Duebendorf    Sold Out

02-Sept    Amsterdam     Arena
04-Sept    Dusseldorf      LTU Arena
06-Sept    Rome                Olympic Stadium
09-Sept    Frankfurt         Commerzbank Arena
11-Sept    London             Wembley Stadium                      New Tickets Released
20-Sept    Paris                 Stade de France                         Sold Out
21-Sept    Paris                 Stade de France                          On sale June 04

04-Oct     E. Rutherford    Izod Center
06-Oct     New York City   Madison Square Garden         Sold Out
07-Oct     New York City   Madison Square Garden         Sold Out
11-Oct     New York City   Madison Square Garden         Sold Out
15-Oct     Boston               TD BankNorth Garden              Sold Out
18-Oct     Toronto              Air Canada Centre                    Sold Out
19-Oct     Toronto              Air Canada Centre                    Sold Out
22-Oct     Montreal            Bell Centre                                  Sold Out
23-Oct     Montreal            Bell Centre                                  Sold Out
26-Oct     Chicago             United Center                             Sold Out
27-Oct     Chicago             United Center                             On sale June 02
30-Oct     Vancouver         BC Place Stadium                    Sold Out

01-Nov     Oakland            Oracle Arena                              Sun. June 1
04-Nov     San Diego         Petco Park                                  Sun. June 1
06-Nov     Los Angeles     Dodger Stadium                        Sun. June 1
08-Nov     Las Vegas         MGM Grand Garden Arena      Sat. May 31
11-Nov     Denver              Pepsi Center                              Sat. May 31
16-Nov     Houston            Minute Maid Park                      Sat. May 31
19-Nov     Philadelphia     Wachovia Center                      Mon. June 2
22-Nov     Atlantic City     Boardwalk Hall                          Mon. June 2
24-Nov     Atlanta              Philips Arena                             Sat. May 31
26-Nov     Miami                 Dolphin Stadium                        Sat. May 31
 

Additional dates and venues to be announced.
Madonna's Sticky & Sweet tour will also visit Mexico and South America later this year. Show date and on sale information to follow.
For news, contests, tour dates and more visit Madonna.com. www.madonna.com

Source: marketwire/Warner Bros. Records.

Communiqué Officiel de Presse: VH1.com Lance l'Offre de Tickets pour la Performance Exclusive de Madonna à New York le 30 avril.


Press Release Source: VH1
Tuesday April 15, 12:00 pm ET 

The VH1 Blog Presents "4 Lines To See Madonna" - Two Winners to Receive Admission for Two to Historic Roseland Ballroom Event Where Madonna Will Debut Songs from Her New CD "HARD CANDY"

NEW YORK, April 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Beginning today, VH1.com is accepting submissions for their "4 Lines To See Madonna" promotion -- a contest where two creative fans will win a pair of tickets to see Madonna perform at a special show at New York's Roseland Ballroom on April 30 -- one day following the release of "HARD CANDY."
To enter, visit the VH1 Blog at MadonnaTickets.VH1.com and provide your best 4 lines of poetry about Madonna. Submissions can focus on any Madonna-related topic -- from her upcoming album release to her astonishing 26-year career. Show the world you have what it takes to stand out in the sea of Madonna fans and you could be one of two winners to receive two tickets to a once-in-a-lifetime exclusive Madonna performance.
Submissions will be accepted on the VH1 Blog through April 24, 11:59 AM and will be judged on creativity and originality.
Madonna's 11th studio album for Warner Bros. Records contains the smash hit single, "4 Minutes" -- a song co-written and co-produced by Madonna, Timbaland and Justin Timberlake. The video for the single stars all three artists. The single is currently the No. 1 most downloaded single on iTunes.
VH1 connects viewers to the music, artists and pop culture that matter to them most with TV series, specials, live events, exclusive online content and public affairs initiatives. VH1 is available in 90 million households in the U.S. VH1 also has an array of digital channels and services including VH1Classic, VH1 Soul, VH1 Mobile, VH1 Games and extensive broadband video on VH1.com. Connect with VH1 at VH1.com.

Source: VH1.

Communiqué de presse officiel de Warner Brothers Records sur "4 Minutes".


'4 Minutes', the pulsating and hypnotic debut single from Madonna’s 11th studio album for Warner Bros. Records 'HARD CANDY' is off to a roaring start with explosive exposure in a wide range of mediums.
The breathtaking new video for '4 Minutes' featuring a propulsive performance by Madonna along with appearances by the song’s co-writers and co-producers Timbaland and Justin Timberlake will make its world premiere and be available for sale exclusively on iTunes for 48 hours beginning April 3rd. The video was filmed in London in February and directed by French wunderkinds, Jonas and Francois (Justice and Kanye West). The single, '4 Minutes' is currently #1 on iTunes.
The upcoming Warner Bros.-Village Roadshow Pictures action comedy 'Get Smart,' is on board to include '4 Minutes' in the film. In theatres nationwide on June 20th, 'Get Smart' stars Steve Carell and Anne Hathaway as secrent CONTROL operatives Maxwell Smart and Agent 99 on a mission to thwart a plan for world domination by the evil crime syndicate KAOS. The film also stars Dwayne Johnson as superstar CONTROL Agent 23, Alan Arkin as the Chief, Terence Stamp as notorious KAOS king pin Siegfried and James Caan as the president of the United States.
On the international front, '4 Minutes' is already Top 3 across Europe in airplay and Top 10 around the world. Already playing in heavy rotation on radio stations across the US, the single in Canada is the fastest selling song in the history of the Canadian music charts. The song can also be heard as part of Sunsilk’s multi-million dollar ad campaign.
'Hard Candy' will have a global release on April 28th and a US release on April 29th and is a brilliant up-tempo collection of 12 songs in which Madonna remains ensconced in club mode but adds an urban hip hop beat. '4 Minutes' is Madonna’s 26th Top 40 chart hit in the US. Her previous album 'Confessions On A Dance Floor' debuted at No. 1 in 30 countries and sold over 8 million copies.
Madonna, a multi-Grammy-award-winning singer, songwriter, producer, cultural icon, world renowned stage performer, video visionary, children’s book author, director and documentary film maker has sold 200 million albums in the course of her unprecedented two decade plus career and has just been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
When asked about the '4 Minute Fever Phenomenon,' Madonna commented, 'Goody goody gum drops.'

Hard Candy: Communiqué Officiel de Presse


From Madonna.com:

Hard Candy - Official Press Release 

Posted: 2 March 2008
 

'HARD CANDY' DELICIOUS NEW MADONNA ALBUM SCHEDULED TO BE RELEASED ON WARNER BROS. RECORDS APRIL 29th 

 

28 February 2008, Burbank, California-Madonna's 11th studio album for Warner Bros. Records "HARD CANDY" is scheduled to have a global release on April 28th and a US release on April 29th, it was confirmed by her label. "HARD CANDY" (the follow up to Madonna's "CONFESSIONS ON A DANCE FLOOR" which debuted at No. 1 in 30 countries and sold over 8 million copies), has been described as a brilliant up-tempo collection of 12 songs in which Madonna remains ensconced in club mode but this time adds an urban hip hop beat in collaboration with musical partners Timbaland, Justin Timberlake, Pharrell Williams of The Neptunes and Nate "Danja" Hills. The debut single, the pulsating "4 Minutes" will be released at the end of March.
 

"The title is a juxtaposition of tough and sweetness... kind of like I'm gonna kick your ass but it's going to make you feel good. And of course, I love candy" laughed the material girl.
 

Madonna, a multi-Grammy-award-winning singer, songwriter, producer, cultural icon, world renowned stage performer, video visionary, children's book author, director and documentary film maker has sold 200 million albums in the course of her unprecedented two decade plus career and is slated to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 10th.